Conveying apparatus.



2 S e s-Sheet l Patented Dec. 26, |899.

J. T. CDWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application led Mar. 28, 1899.)

Tn: Norms PETERS w. Pnoauwo., wAsHmoraN. b. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

f gg @1w Patented n'gzs, |899.

J. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application led Mar. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

mi mams Perini co, PNoTaLrYHo., WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNTTED STATES I PATENT Errea.-

-.iAMES T. COWLEY, OE LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSTCNOR To TEE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIELCATioN forming part ef Letters Patent Ne. 640,104, dated December 2e, 189e.

Application led March 23, 1899. Serial No. 710,156. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom zit may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. COWLEY, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new`- and useful Improvements in Conveying Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in conveying apparatus; and its object is to provide a line over which a .carrier will be propelled in both.directions by the same cable, and, further, to provide automatic means for shifting the direction otl travel of the cable when the carrier reaches the opposite end of the line.

My invention relates to certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate aconstruction embodying my invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the line with the carrier in the center of the line traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 2 is a plan-view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail side View of the trip mechanism. Fig. 4

is an end View of the trip mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side view of the cable-gripping mechanism on the carrier. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 5.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views. y

The carrier A is provided with-wheels B, adapted to travel on the track C. Said carrier is provided with iiXed grippingjaws D, capable of adjustment by the set-screw D', and which jaws are internally provided with oppositely-inclined corrugations D"I for the purpose of gripping the cable as the carrier travel-s in opposite directions and forcing the cable toward the bottom of the jaws D. These gripping-jaws are secured to the frame D3 by suitable means, and on the opposite ends of said frame are mounted friction-rollers D4 for steadying the carrier as it travels along the track by engaging with the guide-rails E, which may extend a part or the entire distance of the track. The continuous cable F passes around the pulley E', carried by the bracket E2, supported on the hanger E3, and around the pulleys F and F2, Supported in the hangers F3 and F4 on the hanger F5. This cable passes around the driving-pulley G, mounted fast on the shaft G, which is driven by the straight belt G2 and the cross-belt G3, running on the loose pulleys G4 and fast pulley G5. As shown in Fig. 2,- the belt G2 is on the fast pulley G5 and the cable is pulling the carrier in the direction indicated by the arrow, Figs. l and 2. As the carrier A runs down the depressed portion C of the track C it becomes disengaged from the cable and runs by momentum along the track until it strikes the lever H, having a hub H loosely mounted on the shaft H2, which is supported in the bracket H3, carried by the hanger H4.

On the shaft H2 is securely fastened the catch l J in engagement with a pin K on the lever K', mounted on the stud K2 in the hub K3. Secured to the lever K" is a spring L, the opposite end of which is secured to some iiXed point and so adjusted as to maintain the tension at all times on the lever K to pull it forward to the position shown in dotted lines, when the catch J is released from the pin K.

The trip-wire M isconnected at M to the lever K' and at M2 to a pivoted link M3, mounted on the bracket M4, carried by the hanger M5. Said trip-wire then continues and is connected at M6 to the bell-crank lever M7, pivoted at M8, and to the opposite end of said bell-crank lever is connected the link M10, secured at its opposite end to a bracket M11 on the belt-shifting rod N; On the belt-shifting rod N there are mounted fast the belt-shifting fingers O O in engagement, respectively,with the straight and cross belts G2 and G3.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When it is desired to send a carrier from the right-hand end of theline, it is moved up the inclined portion C2 until the grippingjaws engage the cable. As the carrier A reaches the depressed portion C of the track C itpulls away from the cable F and continues its travel by momentum until it strikes the lever H, which moves to the left-hand dotted position, Fig. 3. When the leverHis in .this position, the pin H5, engaging with the finger J' of the catch J, will lift the catch .l into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 3, and out of engagement with the pin K on the lever K. The lever K' will then be pulled forward by IOO the action of the spring L, carrying with it the trip-wire M, which, being connected to the bell-crank lever M7 and the beltshifting rod N, will shift the belts G2 and G3 so that the belt G3 will occupy the position on the tight pulley G5 now occupied by the belt G2 (see Fig. 2) and the direction of travel of the cable will be reversed and will run in the opposite direction and will return the carrier to the station from which it was sent as soon as the carrier has again engaged with the cable. In returning the carrier from the left end of the line to the right end itis moved along the depressed portion C and strikes the lever I-I, moving it to the right-hand dotted position, (shown in Fig. 3,) and as the carrier passes under said lever the lever returns by gravity to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 3. The carrier upon its return movement toward the right endleaves its engagement with the cable F upon arriving at the depressed portion C2 at the right end. When it is desired to again send the carrier over the line, the operator will shift the belts G2 and G3 to the position shown in Fig. 2 by moving the shifting-rod N. This movement of lthe rod N will carry with it the bell-crank lever M7 and trip-wire M,

connected to the lever K', and restoring thelever to its position in engagement with the catch J and put the spring L under tension for the next operation of the shifting belts. The carrier is then moved up the inclined portion C2 of the track C until the gripping mechanism is in engagement with the cable F,When the carrier will be moved over the line to the opposite end, when the operation will be the same as above described.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction ernbodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a conveying apparatus, a cable, a motor for propelling said cable, a track, a carrier adapted to travel on said track and to engage with said cable and be propelled thereby, and mechanism for automatically reversing the direction of travel of said cable and adapted to be actuated by the movement of the carrier to reverse the cable after the carrier has become disengaged from the cable.

2. In a conveying apparatus, a cable, a motor for propelling said cable, a track, a carrier adapted to travel on said track and to engage with said cable and be propelled thereby, and

mechanism for automatically reversing the JAMES T. (JOVVLEY.

"Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, C. A. STEWART. 

